New Pocket Prairie at Oak Park Main Library
Library garden (Purple Coneflowers, Showy Goldenrod, Anise Hyssop in bloom.
Oak Park Main Library’s Pocket Prairie in the fall. They added a S.H.A.R.E. sign, which stands for Simply Have Areas Reserved for the Environment from the Pollinator Partnership
Cascade of Joe Pye, Big Bluestem, Purple Coneflowers, Mountain Mint (Beye School)
Splendor of Rose/Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) (Beye School)
Cicada Killer on Swamp Milkweed
Showy Tick Trefoil in bloom at Wolf Road Prairie
Meadowhawk perched on Obedient Plant; New England Aster foreground
Hoary Vervain and Wild Quinine
Wild Senna
Coreopsis, Mountain Mint, Purple Coneflowers, a Liatris peeking in on the right
Bee Balm and Flat-topped Aster in bloom. Lower right, White Snakeroot foliage
Native bee from the Megachile genus (leafcutter, solitary)
Same bee showing off her abdomen used for collecting pollen; tiny sweat bee waiting its turn
Parasitoid wasp ovipositing (laying eggs) in what looks like a syrphid fly larva, who was on the milkweed going after aphids. Parasitoids, though considered beneficial, do no discriminate; anything with a soft body is food for her offspring
Mass of lacewing eggs laid near aphids on milkweed. Tempting to squish the aphids, but if you wait predators will come.
Common Green Darner resting before it continues its migration
Close-up of Common Green Darner